Michael Ifinqilha MosesImprisoned for Life(Michael was released before we could manufacture his bracelet, but this is the biographical information we have.)

Michael Moses was a member of SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Organization); the primary liberation movement in Namibia during their struggle for independence. There were believed to be nearly 50 Namibian prisoners on Robben Island and it has been claimed that almost as many again are in other prisons in South Africa. There were 17 Namibians serving life sentences in South Africa, and were included in the Political Prisoners of South Africa Bracelet Program.

Thirty-seven SWAPO members were arrested in 1966 in Namibia and flown secretly to Pretoria, South Africa. They were held in detention and tortured until charged in 1967 under the South African Terrorism Act for conspiring to incite revolution and armed resistance to the administration in Namibia, receiving military training, encouraging others to do so, and entering Namibia armed to create violent revolution. The Terrorism Act was passed by the South African Parliament only in June 1967, but was made retroactive to 1962 in order to cover SWAPO activities after that date. The United Nations condemned the trial as a violation of Namibia’s international status.

Although some of the defendants were originally sentenced to life imprisonment, their sentenced was reduced upon appeal. Other defendants were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment or less. Moses and 14 others were sentenced to life and served that sentence on Robben Island. In 1969, two other SWAPO members were sentenced to life.

_________The source of this biographical information is International Defence and Aid Fund’s book, Prisoners of Apartheid, 1978. We appreciate their permission to use this material.